Benedictine College Football earned the top spot in the Heart of America Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll as the preseason favorite to win the Heart South.

Benedictine, coming off a share of the 2024 Heart South title and a run into the NAIA Football Championship Series Semifinals, will open the year atop the division after earned 35 points and 5 of the 7 first-place votes from the conference coaches.

Baker and MNU, who also shared the 2024 Heart South title with the Ravens, both earned 29 points and each received 1 first-place vote and are tied for No. 2 in the poll. Missouri Baptist (21 points) was fourth, followed by Missouri Valley (16 points), Central Methodist (11 points) and William Woods (6 points).

Defending NAIA National Champion Grand View was selected as the preseason favorite to repeat as the Heart North champion with 36 points and 6 of the divisions 7 first-place votes.

Peru State was tabbed as the No. 2 in the North with 28 points while Graceland was selected in third with 25 points and the remaining first-place vote. William Penn (22 points), Saint Ambrose (17 points), Culver-Stockton (12 points) and Clarke (7 points) rounded out the Heart North poll.

A number of Heart program's will start their year during Week 0 this season. MNU hosts Nelson (Texas) and William Woods hosts William Penn on Aug. 28 while Benedictine hosts Morningside on Aug. 30 on O'Malley Field at Larry Wilcox Stadium with a 1 p.m. kick off.

All three games are part of the inaugural NAIA-Urban Edge Network (UEN) Kickoff Weekend Schedule with the Ravens and the Mustangs selected as the Heart-UEN Clash of the Week.

Tickets for the Week 0 meeting, as well as 2025 Season Tickets, can be purchased at www.ravenathletics.com/tickets.

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